Roger Daltrey/The Chieftains - Behind Blue Eyes

As a followup to my last post, if you want a really "pretty" version of "Behind Blue Eyes" you could go with Roger Daltrey teaming up with The Chieftains and singing the song on Jay Leno's show back in 1992. As I alluded to in the last post it's not about "pretty" for me, it's about the genuine emotion. Of course, if you're looking for anger, frustration and sadness exuded to a tee you might as well go back to the original. Daltrey said that his dog died the day The Who first recorded this song for the 1971 album Who's Next. But I've been looking for live stuff and for a specific reason. More on that at another time.

The Who - Behind Blue Eyes

I've been looking for a version of "Behind Blue Eyes" that really "fits" - I'll have more on that at a later date - but I think I've found it. This 2005 performance is of Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey in New York at Gotham Hall for Samsung's Four Seasons of Hope, an annual children's charity fundraiser.

For me, the emotion expressed in Roger's singing is real and extremely heartfelt. The amazing thing about these guys is that Pete wrote the song and then Roger brings it to life. The video quality is decent, nothing great. But that's fine for me. I'm not into everything having to be remastered and touched up to be "perfect." That Gotham show should be available on DVD because Pete and Roger really put on a superb performance from the few videos I have seen.